River Description

In the decades following construction of the Cresta Hydroelectric Project (FERC P-1962) flows were diverted for hydropower and only 50 cfs flowed through this reach of the North Fork Feather. Spring and winter releases were erratic and nearly impossible to catch. All this changed in June 2001 with the issuance of a new licnese for this project. The staff and volunteers of American Whitewater, Chico PaddleHeads, and Shasta Paddlers spent more than five years, thousands of dollars, and thousands of hours negotiating the new licence. The new license included increased base flows and recreation boating releases. The base flows were designed to bump up incrementally every five years. The third five year flow period began in 2015. The practical outcome for paddlers is that the Rock Creek reach, particularly the Tobin and Lobin sections, are now boatable every day in Wet, Normal, and Dry years. For more inforamtion on specific flows, see the flow info tab on this page.

Although parking is limited there are several alternative access sites as the entire run parallels Highway 70. You can thus start at the top and run the whole section or you can just do a couple laps on the part that best suites your skills and interest. The run is generally divided into 3 sections which each offer a different character. These include Rodger's Flat, Tobin, and Lobin.

Rodger's Flat Run

Rodgers Flat begins below the Rock Creek diversion dam and ends at the Tobin Vista river access. The run is approximately five-miles in length with an average gradient of 50 feet per mile. Overall the difficulty of this run is class III and the character consists of pool-drop rapids separated by intervening sections of calmer water. Although the most challenging rapids can be seen from the road, there are several additional rapids that are difficult to see and you will encounter more whitewater on this reach than first appears from a road scout.

Two rapids that should be approached with caution are Lisa's Ledge and Carl's Kitchen both of which are visible from the road and should be obvious as the more challenging drops on the run. There are multiple lines on Lisa's Ledge which include a left chute, left prow, and the right line boof. Carl's Kitchen starts over on river left but you want to work your way back to the right side of this main channel. A boulder jumble on river left is best avoided. There is also a sneak route on the right side of the island. Several additional fun rapids characterize this section and you just need to remain heads up for a couple of holes that come up quick.

Keep your eyes open for the take-out on river right at either Indian Jim Campground or Tobin Vista unless you are planning to continue on downstream through the more challenging Tobin Run.

Tobin Run

The Tobin section begins shortly after the Tobin Vista access site. The next 1.2 mile drops 150 feet through a large boulder field complete with undercuts and sieves. At higher releases (~1200 cfs) this section moves fast and contains some stomping holes and you should be prepared for a class V experience. At lower releases (~1000 cfs) you have more time between drops and generous eddies, and although many of the moves are class IV+, the consequences of a swim are still very significant. At any level a guide is helpful for your first trip down as the best lines through the rapids are not always obvious. You can view much of this section from the road on river left but the only way to really see the lines is at river level.

While this section can generally be characterized as a mile of great boofs, there are a couple of named rapids. Kevin's Gate is the rapid under the bridge that forms the entrance to the challenging drops that await below. No Brainer is a great auto boof that comes soon after. Cleaver is a fun drop that runs down the right side. The last drop on this section before the Rock Crest Bridge (the private one-land bridge) is Piece of Risa. You want to start in the main current towards the left and then move your way over to the right before you get to the big undercut boulder at the bottom. Just don't go right too early or you'll find yourself in the nasty bit midway down the drop on the right.

A good take-out is availalble on the beach on river left under the Rock Crest Bridge and many take out here to head back upstream and run another lap or two. The rest continue on downstream to the Lower Tobin run, otherwise known as Lobin, which begins downstream of the bridge. Paddlers continuing on down are joined by those who put in for Lobin.

Lobin Run

From the Rock Crest Bridge, the Lobin Run starts out with a couple of stout class IV drops but as you pass the Storrie Bridge (where Highway 70 crosses over to river right) the gradient eases and the difficulty level drops to a more reasonable III - IV. Those who don't want to run the first couple drops of Lobin can put-in at the Storrie Bridge. Several fun rapids characterize this section. Additional flows enter the river at Bucks Creek powerhouse. Don't hang out in front of the powerhouse as the pipes have 2000' of head on them and in the event of an emergency shutdown the flow would bypass the generator and vent across the river under very high pressure. The good news is you pick up a bit more flow here for the last bit of the run. The final rapid just past the Rock Creek Powerhouse can be challenging and varies with flows (depending on how much flow is coming out of the powerhouse which changes by the minute). Take out on river right downstream of the powerhouse.

Logistics:
The Feather River Canyon is a short drive from most Northern California locations and a high quality resource. The meeting place for runs on this section is Tobin Vista which is 36 miles south of Quincy and 41 miles north of Oroville on Highway 70.

Primary access points are as follows designated by Plumas County mile markers on Highway 70 along the way:

Rock Creek Powerhouse, Mile 3.9: This access point is on the downstream side of the Rock Creek powerhouse and is the lowermost take-out before the river stalls out in the flatwater of the Cresta Reservoir. A rough trail through the rip rap along the highway heads up from the river.

Storrie Bridge, Highway 70, Mile 5.65: The Storrie Bridge is an alternate access point used as a put-in for Lobin for those who want to skip the first couple rapids. Access is on the upstream river left side of the bridge.

Rock Crest Bridge, private PG&E road, Mile 6.3: This one-lane bridge is the traditional divding point between the Tobin and Lobin runs serving as a take-out for the class V run or a put-in for the class IV+ run. A rough trail down the upstream river left side of the bridge leads down to a beach and a good eddy. If you want to add one more challenging rapid to your Lobin run, you can also walk up along the shoulder about 100 yards and scramble down to an eddy to set up for a run of Piece of Risa.

Highway 70 pull-out, Mile 6.9: This pull-out is along the Tobin Reach and although it is not an access point for boaters, it offers a view of the reach and is a popular access point for spectactors who want to scramble down to the river.

Tobin Vista, Mile 7.5: This is the traditional dividing point between the Rodger's Flat run and the Tobin run serving as the take-out for the class III run and the put-in for the class V run. This is also one of the most popular meeting spots for boaters (keep in mind that no cell coverage in the canyon means you need to coordinate your meeting point before you drive up the canyon).

Indian Jim Campground, Mile 8.22: The Indian Jim School is no longer an active school and the Forest Service has neglected the adjoining campground that was damaged in floods. It still remains the most popular place for boaters to camp and is the site of the annual Feather Fest. The campground has no running water or toilet facilities. Fire danger can be extremely high in summer so avoid open fires.

Rodger's Flat put-in, Mile 11.8: For many years boaters had to park in the small pull-out along the highway and spring across the road dodging traffic to access the river. As recreational mitigation for the impacts of the hydropower project, American Whitewater negotiated a parking facility and sanitation. It is undersized for big release weekends and the trail to the river is inadequate but it is better than what existed before.

Rock Creek Dam, Mile 12.1: Not an access point but the upstream limit of this section where water is released from the dam.

Rapid Descriptions

Gaging Station

Class - II+
Mile - 0.4

The river takes a hard bend to the right as you pass by the gage station. Look out for the hole in the main flow near the bottom. Punch it or head around it to the left.

Lisa's Ledge

Class - III+
Mile - 0.5

Take the center-left channel on Lisa's Ledge which funnels down through a fun chute. There was a fun boof on river right but CalTrans pushed some boulders into the river that have since blocked this route. You can get a look at this rapid from the pull-out at Highway 70 mile 11.3.

Brexit

Class - II+
Mile - 0.8

Hole at the bottom of the rapid. Go right or left or boof over the top.

Carl's Kitchen

Class - III+
Mile - 1.1

Carl's Kitchen starts over on river left but you want to work your way back to the right side of this main channel. You want to avoid the boulder jumble on river left. Scout from the road on the way to the put in from the pull-out at Highway 70 mile 10.7.

Eddy Catcher

Class - II+
Mile - 1.8

Lots of eddies to catch in this natural slalom course as you pass by the PG&E maintenance facilities at Rodgers Flat.

Sharknado

Class - II+
Mile - 2.4

Stay towards the middle of the channel on this straightforward rapid. Be sure to miss the shark rock at the bottom.

Chambers Creek

Class - II+
Mile - 2.9

Straightforward rapid formed by the outwash of Chambers Creek

Dump Truck

Class - III
Mile - 3

This rapid offers options down the left or right side around an island. The left side is a bit more sporty.

Indian Jim Rapid

Class - II+
Mile - 3.3

Indian Jim Rapid at the upstream end of the campground is the site of the annual slalom race at Feather Fest.

Indian Jim Campground

Class - N/A
Mile - 3.8

This campground at the old Indian Jim School site is a take out for the Rodgers Flat section and put in for the Tobin section. It is also a convenient meeting place for boaters and the site of the annual Feather Fest held in September.

Tobin Vista

Class - N/A
Mile - 4.1

Dancing Boy

Class - IV
Mile - 4.2

This rapid can be run far right, center, or down the left. The classic line is down the left. This side makes a 90 degree turn and then off a four to six foot drop. The line requires making a downsteam boof. Following the current and penciling in typicaly leads to a beat down and swim.

Kevin's Gate

Class - IV+
Mile - 4.3

Entrance drop to the steepest part of the Tobin section of the Rock Creek Run. Named for Kevin Lewis who was an AW volunteer that made the releases on the Feather a reality.

Tobin Ledge

Class - IV+
Mile - 4.4

At release flows this river wide ledge is generaly run far left or far right. Get sucked to the middle and you are looking for a beat down. This is also the beginning of the steepest part of the run. If you are having trouble to this point, the road is a short hike away. There is a nice boof center right at low flows.

No Brainer

Class - N/A
Mile - 5

There are two lines here depending on water level. At low water you make your way back to the left after running PMS. This line is a narrow slot that as the name implies is a "No Brainer". Just line it up and paddle off. At release flows, above 800cfs, there is a great ramp to the right of the big boulder. The drop above Top left picture is Paddle Management Slot or "PMS". This is the low flow line and require careful paddle management.

Cleaver

Class - N/A
Mile - 5.1

At most flows this can be run left to right, getting a huge sky boof. Above 1000 cfs it is a straight shot down the right. At all flows, beware the Cleaver rock just downstream of the drop.

El Patron

Class - N/A
Mile - 5.25

At release flows this is generally considered the hardest rapid on the run. At low flows, it is a portage or a push through the rocks.

Piece of Risa

Class - N/A
Mile - 5.5

The close-out rapid on the challenging Tobin section of the Rock Creek run. Beware of the pin hazard on the right and the undercut boulders to the left.

Rock Crest Bridge

Class - N/A
Mile - 5.6

Traditional dividing point between Tobin and Lobin run.

Buck's Creek Powerhouse

Class - N/A
Mile - 6.5

Don't hang out in front of the powerhouse as the emergency release valve can send a jet of water out across the river without warning.

Little Knarly

Class - N/A
Mile - 6.6

This is a long class +III rapid below the Bucks Creek Powerhouse. In 2010 a fatality occured at the bottom of this rapid.

Powerhouse Rapid

Class - IV
Mile - 8

This is the last rapid on the Rock Creek section of the North Fork Feather. It is just below the powerhouse so flows can vary considerably depending on upstream release and the outflow from the powerhouse.

Comments

Chris Bell

|

12 years ago

Hit Your Line at the Top of 'Piece of Risa' Too!
In a BoaterTalk thread on the pinning incident (available at http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/1129154), Mike Fentress describes another scary incident in 'Piece of Risa', this one starting in a nasty eddy on river left at the top to the rapid:
In case the link ever disappears, the key bit is: "Last month, at the top left of the same rapid, a boater was swept into the top left eddy just past the entrance. I'm pretty sure he didn't go there on purpose, as it in no way looks inviting. Anyhow, we were just done with the run, up on shore, and saw him climbing out of the rocks near the bottom. He had been sucked deep under the big rock that forms the bottom part of the top left eddy, and came out near the obvious undercut at bottom left."
Mike's conclussion: "I think the description given in AW about the safest way to run the rapid is right on - enter top left, stay left of center until towards the bottom, then go right."

Joel Passovoy

|

12 years ago

Every year we hear more stories of terrifying spots in the tobin stretch of the N. Feather, and there is usually an element of surprise in the comments that come along with the photos. Get a clue folks. This stretch is extremely hazardous, all one needs to see this, is to be observant of the large number of sieves in the rocks on shore that don't get covered by boating flows. There is no reason to think that the rest of the channel is any different than the banks.
This run is fun and the moves aren't that difficult, but considerable thought and caution should be exercised before one goes exploring anything but the tried and true lines.

Chris Bell

|

12 years ago

In case the link ever disappears, the key bits are: "On the last rapid of the Tobin section, Piece of Risa, at a flow of 1000 cfs, I ran the rapid on river right. Unsuspectingly, my boat pinned vertically in a nasty hole that the river has bored into a boulder. This hole can not be seen at released flows. I had no idea it was there until I landed in it. I was pinned for about 10 minutes until I was able to free myself from the boat . . . I drove back the following day to remove the boat myself after the flow had been shut off. What I saw scared the shit out of me. The boat was pinned in a perfect tube through a granite boulder. Big hole at the top, small exit hole at the bottom. A perfect sieve. Had my kayak gone in at any different angle, the situation would have been much worse."

What really put my hair on edge was a peek at the photos of the incident and of the sieve at low water:

Don't do this run without taking a look at these photos first so you'll know what to avoid when you get to this drop!

Alerts

5 months ago

Though these sections can be combined, their difficulty levels are significantly different. Please note specific put-in and take-out locations if you are attempting to only bite off one of the less challenging sections, as the toughest stretch (Tobins) is sandwiched between two somewhat easier segments.

by Evan Stafford

1 year ago

LOG HAZARD below Lisa's Ledge on Rock Creek Run. It is in the boof line that many people take on this rapid - log would be on river right. It could create a very bad pin.

Release Schedule

Gage Descriptions

American Whitewater negotiated real-time flow information with PG&E and for several years provided it through a web interface (AW Feather gauge). Via a new agreement reached in 2007 releases are scheduled for both Saturdays and Sundays generally on the fourth weekend of the month, June through September in Wet/ Normal years and July through September in Dry years. The flows shall be increased Saturday morning at the 400 cfs/hr ramp rate and by 9:00 a.m. be at the higher boating flow. The flows shall be held at that level until about 3 p.m. that same day when flows shall be decreased at the 150 cfs/hr ramp rate to the lower flow and held at that flow until Sunday afternoon at about 2:00 p.m. when flows shall be reduced at 150 cfs/hr to the monthly base flow. Flow levels are in the table below.

Rock Creek Reach Minimum River Flow and Boating Flow
Third 5-Year Flow Period - Wet/Normal Water Year

Upload Media

Submit Accident Report

If someone gets hurt on a river, or you read about a whitewater-related injury, please report it to
American Whitewater. Don't worry about multiple submissions from other witnesses, as our safety
editors will turn multiple witness reports into a single unified accident report.

Alerts

5 months ago

Though these sections can be combined, their difficulty levels are significantly different. Please note specific put-in and take-out locations if you are attempting to only bite off one of the less challenging sections, as the toughest stretch (Tobins) is sandwiched between two somewhat easier segments.

by Evan Stafford

1 year ago

LOG HAZARD below Lisa's Ledge on Rock Creek Run. It is in the boof line that many people take on this rapid - log would be on river right. It could create a very bad pin.

by Theresa Simsiman

News

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - 2019 CA RECREATIONAL RELEASES

3/20/2019

Theresa Simsiman

Here are the 2019 scheduled recreational releases for hydropower projects American Whitewater negotiated across California.

American Whitewater, along with our partners at California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and Trout Unlimited, are requesting remediation by Union Pacific Railroad of the ongoing and increasingly serious threat to public safety caused by the instability of the Railroad’s retaining wall and adjacent hill slope on the North Fork of the Feather River near Tobin, California. Flows in the 800 cfs range are expected to start on November 5th and stay high until a maintenance project on the Rock Creek and Cresta Dams are complete. Repairs are expected to finish by November 23rd for the Rock Creek Dam and November 30th for the Cresta Dam.

2018 Recreational Flows (CA)

5/9/2018

Theresa Simsiman

American Whitewater continues to play an important role in negotiating and implementing the recreational flows provided by hydropower licenses throughout California. Here are some of the scheduled recreational releases for 2018. Enjoy!

Rock Creek Access On NF Feather River Opened at Last! (CA)

6/14/2017

Megan Hooker

On June 13, 2017 the Rock Creek Bench river access site on the North Fork Feather River officially opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) constructed the site as part of a post FERC licensing agreement with American Whitewater and other members of the Ecological Resources Committee. This access provides a huge safety improvement over how paddlers have accessed this river reach, and marks the completion of the last major goal for American Whitewater in restoring this section of river.

New Flows on the NF Feather (CA)

3/29/2016

Evan Stafford

The North Fork of the Feather River will be boatable every day for the rest of 2016! Flows will increase because of a revised flow schedule and the wet year we are having in California. Almost twenty years ago, American Whitewater made it our goal to restore the North Fork Feather River and this new flow regime is a testament to our success.

New North Fork Feather Website & Flow Phone

5/6/2002

Risa Shimoda

AW and PG&E have created a new flow information website and flow phone for two new sections of the North Fork of the Feather River. Realtime updates, daily updates, weekend forecasts, and a long-range forecast of never before published gauges give you all the beta you need.